We had a really nice weekend. Friday we did some decorating, but the kids had a big fight about trees for their room so I ended that early.
Saturday both kids played basketball, and in between DD2 and I watched the US world cup match. A disappointing sports day in our house, but what can you do? DH and our electrician hung our new TV in the family room - our old one still works, but is randomly turning off and on at different times. So we're putting that one in the basement once the room is finished. Heat is being installed today, then I think the ceiling is going in. Then Dh and I went out to dinner and had a really nice time. It's so hard for us to find time to catch up lately.
Sunday I did a bunch of stuff around the house, and then I spent the day at the kids' school preparing for the annual Christmas bazaar. My friend is co-chairing it this year, and we went to lunch beforehand, which was really nice. I thought I'd leave there around 4 and come home to make a nice dinner, but things were not really planned well, so we ended up there until almost 7.
It's going to be a crazy week. I'm dismissing the kids early and we are having a marathon family therapy session today. I'm hoping we can make some progress. DD1 has basketball tonight and tomorrow (I'm coaching tomorrow). Wednesday evening I'm heading back to school to finish the bazaar set up, and then I'm spending all day Thurs and Fri at school to help out. It's my favorite time of the year, and even though it's exhausting, I will definitely miss it when we aren't at the school anymore. DD2 also has basketball on Thursday, and then both have games on Saturday.
My mom has been visiting my sister on the opposite coast for close to a month now, and she keeps putting off her return trip home. She was supposed to come home today, and it sounds like she's not coming home now until after Christmas. I hope that she is enjoying herself and having fun, and that she's not just super exhausted taking care of a toddler and a newborn while my sister sleeps all the time. She's super energetic, but she's 75.
We went to visit my parents for our annual cookie baking weekend. The kids had so much fun and it was really nice to visit with my family. Beau and I kind of begrudgingly agreed to go since we had just traveled for Thanksgiving and didn't really want to immediately travel again. But, it all worked out and last night both of us agreed that we were really glad we went.
I'm heading into pure chaos through the end of the year at work, so I'm just trying to maintain my sanity and power through. January marks one year since covid and my pulmonary embolisms, so I've got to fit in some extra doctor's appointments and scans to make sure everything is all good there too.
Friday night we watched a movie, but otherwise didn't want to do anything. DS is a bit worn out from middle school basketball.
Saturday was indoor soccer and a playdate. I invited a friend over. This was kind of in the vein of me always doing the inviting. I was happy to host, but I have invited them 4 times this year, and DD was only invited for her birthday party. I get they are drifting apart slightly, but have reconnected apparently at math/ recess. I'm trying to allow space for ebbs and flows. Anyway, they had fun and decorated cookies and the mom got to go shopping. Oh and the mom says hey we should get together for mom's night or one on one, but then doesn't plan anything. So thanks for telling me you were thinking of me, but you didn't plan anything and now you say we can't because of the holidays, so it kind of makes me think you might not get to it in January either.
Then Sunday, I took DD to the doctor after 3 weeks of this bad cold, and nothing we can do viral blah blah, so the doctor wasn't that helpful, but I know they are trying not to prescribe antibiotics, but in the past that would have been an antibiotic situation. So anyway, she suggested the neti pot, which we tried and DD did not care for, but then at least could breath out of her nose.
DH and I were supposed to get the tree and go Christmas shopping, so we left the kids home, but he wants to do more experience gifts (i.e. doesn't want to put effort into shopping and wants to delay the expenses), and he never got a tree. So that wasn't very productive, but we did have a good lunch. DD was asking me to play a game, so I invited her neighbor friend over instead so I didn't have to entertain her. I think that went OK.
This morning, DD lost her shoes under a pile of clean clothes and DH finally found them after her tantrums, so cleaning her room is on the agenda for tonight and more basketball games.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Dec 5, 2022 12:18:41 GMT -5
Friday was the middle school party - kind of a dance without any dancing. It was DS' first year to go and he had a blast.
Saturday we had 2 birthday parties and they were both low key and fun.
Sunday DS and DH went shopping and DD and I went to a pottery place with girl scouts and decorated push plates. That was also fun. After that we were kind of all ready to sit still for a while which we did.
Somehow it was very busy but didn't feel too overwhelming so that was also really nice.
twinmomma, are you still having issues from your long covid? My mom has been coughing pretty much none stop since last December. Doctors tell her it is long covid and won't do anything about the cough. My mom refuses to tests so has never had a positive test so says she hasn't had covid.
PTC conferences on Wednesday and short school week for DD.
Didn't decorate the tree and not really feeling it so no idea when we will get to it. I did do a ton of wrapping and only have DD's gifts left to wrap. DD wants to learn how to wrap but gets very frustrated with the whole process.
Dh and I got a lot of Christmas shopping done Saturday and a nice lunch. Now just gift cards left.
Dd, Dh and I made some candy Sunday after the parade.
These nexr 2 weeks are crazy. Grants to write and I am planning for our big strategic planning meeting next week. Thankfully, I am taking off through the holidays while Ds is home.
Our combined 9 sporting events + me having a sore throat = me losing my voice. Which isn't great when trying to parent very small children I stayed home from the office today and I'm using the chat function on my zoom meetings. I hope it's back before I have to fly to a client committee meeting Wednesday.
Both older kids lost their flag football playoff games Friday evening. DD's all-girl team played an all-boys team made up of their classmates. The girls' team got the first two touchdowns, and the boys' team parents freaked out, started pressuring the teenage boy ref who then made some questionable calls against the girls, then the girls got flustered and lost by a lot. That situation felt really weird. Like the parents and coaches (many of whom I'm friendly with) couldn't fathom how to handle the boys' egos if they lost to the same age girls (they're all 10-12 years old).
We had a similar situation with one of DS1's soccer games yesterday - DS1's team played a team that was heavily favored to win the game (the other team did go on to with the championship), and the other team parents started to take things overly seriously when their team didn't dominate as expected. The score was 0-0 at the half and the other team only won 1-0. Both DD and DS1 played goalie in soccer a lot this weekend and did awesome. I was really proud of them for how hard they tried and kept a good attitude through so many games. The older kids and I also walked with the softball league in our town holiday parade Saturday night, which was super fun.
Next weekend is a softball tournament for DD and we just got the schedule - she has to be there at 6:30 am, 45 minutes away, on Saturday. Saturday night is our friends' awesome adult Christmas party. We'll see if DH and I can still keep our eyes open Saturday night
186momx, Ya, I still have pretty regular shortness of breath. I have an inhaler now, likely for life. My lungs look like someone who has mild COPD so I don't know if it will ever fully resolve. I'm certainly much better than I was. I can do a 15-20 minute Peloton ride some days, which is amazing. But then I have other days I have to use my inhaler and rest after walking up and down the stairs with some laundry. I monitor my blood oxygen levels with my Apple watch pretty regularly.
My dad was moved to an acute rehab facility to help him recover from his spinal surgery. Today is his first day of some intense PT and I hope it goes well for him. I talked to him yesterday and he seemed to be in good spirits and ready to work so he can be home for Christmas. On Saturday, I had therapy and then went in to my office to straighten things up since we are having an audit in 2 weeks. My coworkers and I can't figure out why the auditors are insisting on coming in to our office when everyone is remote. So I'll have to go into the office for 3 days next week unless we can convince the auditors to do everything remote. Then DH met me downtown and we took the kids to see Santa. I know DD is getting a little too old to see Santa, but it's fun to have a pic of the family with him. On Sunday, I woke up with a sore throat and some chills, so I wasn't able to visit my dad. I was able to call him and he sounded really good, which was a vast difference from when I talked to him on Friday when he was in a lot of pain. I was so miserable that I napped a little and then began reading and grading term papers. The plan is to finish grading this week.
It poured all weekend here but ds’s team won their tournament! We joked that the parents deserved the trophy for watching the games on pouring rain.
I woke up with a massive headache today so work is extra hard right now. I might go take a nap after my afternoon meeting and can hopefully wrap up work this evening.
Post by supertrooper1 on Dec 5, 2022 15:56:40 GMT -5
Saturday I woke up frustrated I was still sick after a week with a very sore throat. Beau drove me to the walk-in clinic which had a 2.5 hour wait. Luckily they were taking phone numbers, so we left for a bit and went back at the 2 hour mark. The nurse was hesitant to test me for strep since I have a cough and our area is being hit hard with the flu and RSV, but I tested positive for step. A day of antibiotics made a huge difference but I don't have much for a voice and I had to train a new person today. I spent the weekend watching Netflix while Beau did stuff with his son.
If anyone needs a new Netflix recommendation, Firefly Lane came out with the 2nd season and it's so good.
My mom let it slip to my sister that she woke up Saturday morning freezing. Went to check the temperature on the thermostat and realized that the front door was wide open. The caregiver closes and locks the door when she leaves. The caregiver also said that when she got there Saturday morning that the side gate was also open.
Oldest sister still is adamant about keeping her at home and has committed to staying at her house every night. We'll see how long that lasts. She texted pissed this morning that she wanted to leave at 8 and the caregiver still hadn't arrived by 8:45... well lady, the caregiver doesn't start until 9. Something she'd know if she actually paid attention.
I am just so flipping baffled by this. Home is not safe for her and oldest sister spending every night with her is not a viable option on so many different levels. We have the ability to put her in assisted living/memory care, but instead we're still cobbling together random care like this and ordering cameras for her house.
She went to the neurologist and passed the mini mental exam with a score of 25/30. Which is considered "normal." This is the same woman who doesn't eat, drink, or take medication unless someone puts it in front of her, who has no recollection of events that happened earlier in the day, and who definitely has - at minimum - moderate dementia. But because she's scoring normal, oldest sister thinks she's doing mostly okay. She's not fine.
Side note, my family is not traveling for Christmas this year to see my mom or sisters because I can't/don't want to subject myself and my kids to her. Worst daughter in the world.
k3am , When my dad was OUT of his mind, he managed to pass his first psych exam at the VA hospital. This was after first responders took 3 knives off of him, and he arrived at the hospital with 2 knives. He also went to the hospital store and spent $450 dollars- AS A PATIENT (who was supposed to be in bed recovering from a hip fracture). And after we told them we had put in the court order, but it hadn't come through yet.
When the court order came through and they did the psych exam again, he magically failed. Oh and by then they had noticed that he was actually nuts.
I'm sorry. Also, your sister is not thinking right if she thinks any of this is a good idea.
Post by librarychica on Dec 5, 2022 17:03:31 GMT -5
k3am, you are not the worse daughter. That sounds so frustrating. Your mom can’t help it but your sister totally can! FWIW, I think you are doing the right thing taking a step back.
This weekend was very busy but nice. I did a lot of shopping and I’m almost done, my youngest and I had some great 1 on 1 time, H took the kids roller skating, we had friends over for dinner last night and everyone stayed up too late . The kids were whipped this morning and, honestly, so was I. Next week will be quieter for sure!
A much minor annoying parent issue. My parents have decided to get rid of their landline. Fine. I also don’t have a landline. However my parents are also really awful at carrying or answering their cell phones consistently. Like one day I was stuck behind a wreck and was 45 minutes late meeting them to get my kids but I could not call because my father didn’t have his phone. So they had no idea what was going on until dad called me from a Best Buy. Stuff like that.
Ironically, dad spent nearly 40 years working for the phone company.
It was a pretty good weekend. Our niece is visiting my mil, and we love having her here. She’s great with the kids and they just adore being with her. Saturday night the kids stayed there while DH and I had fancy dinner out and a traveling Broadway show of My Fair Lady. DS apparently didn’t sleep at all. Sunday DS had a birthday party for a friend from his old school. DD came along and they both had a blast at the trampoline park. But then later Sunday DS had another depressive episode. They happen like clockwork on Sunday evenings. And they’re heartbreaking.
On a lighter note, I got my kids Lego advent calendars and DS is losing his mind over them. DD is very meh, but DS thinks they’re super cool. I do notice DD actually opens hers every day. That wasn’t true last year with her charm bracelet one.
k3am, you are not the worst daughter ever. I agree taking this step back/stand on not travelling is probably best for everyone. Oldest sister is the one that can't take time off to take mom to doctors or deal with taxes right? No way is she going to stay every night at mom's house. One it isn't feasible. Can you and middle sister talk to her H? He must not be happy with this solution either.
The management company has been doing work on the exterior of our office building all day. The noise is killing me. Impact drills, saws, sanders...all the tools and all the noise and vibrations has made Monday nightmare.
sandandsea, my friend in the bay area was also at a soccer tournament in the pouring rain this weekend and was posting on social media about it. Her recently turned 11-year-old daughter apparently also won her division and was in her pics holding a trophy with some pine trees on the emblem - I wonder if it was the same tournament
186momx, oldest sister isn't married. Her son and former foster son live with her, but they're both grown. If anything, she should be terrified about the idea of former foster son having unlimited access to her house. He has a history of drug addiction, selling drugs, and stealing from her.
ANNNNNNND sister is proving how out of touch she is. I told her that if she's going to be staying there every night, she needs to make sure mom eats dinner, because I don't think she is. She says.. can't the caregiver just make her a plate and put it in the fridge and she can eat when she's hungry? And both me and middle sister are like.. YEAH, SHE CAN'T REMEMBER TO DO THAT.
I have a SUPER random question for mommyatty or anyone else with experience... I'm joining a Zoom deposition today for work. I'm not being deposed, our lawyer just wants me there so she can consult as she asks questions if needed. I currently have on a nice blouse. Do I need to dig out a blazer or something to put over it? How "dressed up" are you supposed to be for something like that?
And since its on Zoom... I'm wearing leggings and fuzzy crocs with it.
A nice blouse is fine. For a deposition, frankly a sweatshirt would be fine. Just not for court.
Funny aside, I was once defending a deposition against this hippie asshole lawyer. He kept taking his shoes off and walking around the conference room. I finally had the court reporter put in the record that I objected to opposing counsel continuing to take off his shoes and walk around as it was both unprofessional and unhygienic.
mommyatty, waverly, Thanks! My normal work wear is basically a sweatshirt, so I knew I needed to at least step it up from that. I'm so nervous for this, even though I'm not even being questioned! I didn't even go to court or do any of this for my divorce so my anxiety and fear of the unknown is getting to me!
sandandsea, is there room at the fields for one of those EZ-up canopies? like the kind you set up at a cook out or something? DD2's last games this year were in the driving rain. I tried to set it up on the first sideline and there wasn't any room. She's still playing 7v7 so they cut one field up into 4, and our tent was too wide. But when they moved to the second field, the field behind them wasn't in use so we were able to put up the tent.
In another tourney, another family brought a tent too, so we set up one for the kids and one for the parents.
sdlaura, we had a very similar experience at basketball for DD1 this weekend. It's so ruthless. Whyyyyyy are the adults cheating so their middle schoolers can win? What are you teaching them?? Our refs weren't teens this week, but parents of players who absolutely ignored flagrant and dangerous fouls. There is one extended family in town that's known for cheating - even since we played together as kids.
I think it's great that they give teens the opportunity to ref, but some of the parents and coaches are so awful that they're actually afraid to make a call. We nearly had a brawl at a softball playoff game because the 14 year old ump didn't know the difference between a force and fielder's choice, and listened to the cheating parents when she didn't know the right call. She should never have been umping, but all of the parents were screaming at her. Then her dad jumped in to defend her bad calls, the head of the league and the coaches jumped in to confirm that her call needed to be overturned, and the players on both teams were crying.
I will also note: all of the boys teams get professional refs for basketball and professional umps for baseball. Girls get parents volunteers. For basketball in particular, we all pay the same fee. It's bullshit.
Yeah that’s total BS mae0111. Here it seems to be totally random as to which teams end up with more professional refs and umps. I guess there’s a labor shortage like for everything. Every other flag football game has professional/adult refs except this one playoff game.
For both kids sometimes the ref/ump doesn’t show and a parent has to do it. Last time that happened for a softball scrimmage that cost us the game because the dad from our team was trying to be almost overly fair and made a questionable call in the other team’s favor - everyone joked around with him about it but understood why he did it.
DD says she wants to be a ref/ump as one of her first jobs. We’ve talked a lot about the abuse she’ll likely take! Our softball league requires the ump’s parent to be there at the game if he or she is under 16 and I think the teenagers are only allowed to ump the really little kid games.
Yes! The team is required to bring a canopy to every game per league rules so they were covered on the bench. Some parents brought them too. Our chairs have shades built in so we did that and covered with a weatherproof blanket so our clothes didn’t get soaked. And thankfully it was all turf fields so the only mud was getting to and from the fields from the parking lots. It could have been much worse!
I'm annoyed. Lets call them employee A, routinely reads packing slips incorrectly. 1. They are not invoices, they are packing slips and have no bearing on the what they pay in their budget. 2. The read it wrong for example the 8 is a 3 and does show their discount. Or they got the item for free but because it shows the full price they think they didn't get the discount (they did not get the discount because it was a free replacement). Today they told me to "bill someone", hmmm that's not how this works. I decide when and where to bill, and I asked your boss but your boss was sick and never got back to me. I don't have 6 days to wait to tell someone if I am billing them or not. So...... The communication style is just very abrupt. And making someone wait 6 days for an answer is not professional. Plus it was $10, so get over it?
Well, zoom deposition was awful. My blood pressure was through the roof listening to this person. And now we are going to court where I’ll be a witness. I’m freaking out.